Free Software

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What is free software?

Free software is software that respects the 4 software freedoms. The 4 freedoms are

The freedom to run the run the program
The freedom to study the source code
The freedom to modify the source code
The freedom to distribute modified versions of the source code

Please note: Free software does not relate to monetary price. Free software can be sold or gratis (no cost)

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possiblylinux127

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Android kernels should use Libre software as anything else is a security issue in a lot of cases (self.freesoftware)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by possiblylinux127 to c/freesoftware

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If you look at CVEs in Android a lot of them are tied to proprietary Qualcomm binaries. Its crazy how your GPU driver can be exploited to get root access.

If Qualcomm wasn't so dependent on their vendor kernel that ships with tons of binary blobs it would be lot more secure.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

“free” proprietary software bundled with your device? Its not technically free - its paid for as part of buying the device.

Does an actually free alternative to any qualcomm blob exist?

[–] possiblylinux127 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Proprietary software is not free (libre) software. Qualcomm is they only one who can actually patch there proprietary software and because the system is a black box. It is impossible to know how flawed the system could be.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Your post and comments contradict each other - what are you trying to say?

[–] possiblylinux127 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

My post says that Qualcomm proprietary binaries are bad for security.

I did edit it for clarity

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Your title says libre software is bad for security

[–] possiblylinux127 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

You are right

I meant this as reasons to use free software but it got lost in translation

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Yeah what you posted is literally the opposite of what I guess you were trying to say

Its still worded as if libre software is the problem.

“Closed source proprietary software is bad for security” or something - its the fact the code is unauditable is the issue

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

*Free with purchase

You are correct. The software is an integral part of the device and cannot be unbundled.

Maybe I'm missing something, but there don't appear to be FOSS alternatives to Qualcomm binaries. At least, not with a quick search. I might be able to get better information with a more narrow search.

Here is a decent conversation from 2021. I doubt that things have changed much.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26596721